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Council certifies EIR and advances Le Baron Ranch annexation to LAFCO for 1,411‑unit development
Summary
After staff and developer presentations and public testimony, Stockton officials certified the project's environmental impact report, adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations for unavoidable impacts, approved a general plan amendment and pre‑zoning, and authorized filing an annexation application with LAFCO for the proposed 1,411‑unit Le Baron Ranch project.
The Stockton City Council voted 7–0 on Nov. 18 to certify the final environmental impact report (EIR) for the Le Baron Ranch residential project and to advance related land‑use approvals, including general plan amendments, pre‑zoning and filing an annexation application with LAFCO.
The Le Baron Ranch proposal covers roughly 306 acres southeast of Eight Mile and Lower Sacramento Roads and would develop 9 of 12 parcels into 1,411 housing units across a mix of low‑, medium‑ and high‑density zones. The project includes approximately 28 acres of open space, 12.2 acres designated for public parks, wellness walks and a 12‑acre potential K–8 school site the developer is reserving for Lodi Unified School District.
Staff briefed the council on the project and the accompanying EIR, which identified potentially significant and unavoidable impacts in the areas of aesthetics/visual resources, agricultural resources, air quality and transportation/circulation. Because some effects could not be reduced below significance with mitigation, staff prepared a Statement of Overriding Considerations explaining that the project's public benefits (housing, job creation and tax revenue) outweigh the remaining impacts.
Neighbors and community members raised questions about traffic access (including timing of improvements to Lower Sacramento Road), park amenities, and affordable housing set‑asides. The applicant said the project will be developed in phases, with primary access constructed from West Lane and Marlette, and Lower Sacramento Road access occurring in later phases; parks will be designed with public‑works standards and include playgrounds, courts and athletic amenities in conceptual plans.
Council adopted the recommended resolutions and ordinance to certify the EIR, approve the general plan land use changes, adopt pre‑zoning for the listed APNs, and authorize filing an annexation application to LAFCO. Staff noted that the annexation would not be final until LAFCO acted and that tax‑sharing and other interagency agreements remain to be negotiated.
